Latest CFP rankings send encouraging message to the Big 12 -- as long as it doesn't cannibalize itself

This Story is About...

Share This Story On...

LUBBOCK, TX - NOVEMBER 03: Trey Sermon #4 of the Oklahoma Sooners breaks free for a touchdown during the second half of the game against the Texas Tech Red Raiders on November 3, 2018 at Jones AT&T Stadium in Lubbock, Texas. Oklahoma defeated Texas Tech 51- 46. (Photo by John Weast/Getty Images)

The message from the second week of the College Football Playoff rankings was encouraging for the Big 12 -- if the conference's two contenders don't cannibalize themselves.

Oklahoma rose one spot to No. 6 in the CFP rankings Tuesday after surviving a Saturday night in Lubbock. And West Virginia, which made a national impression with the two-point conversion to beat Texas, rose four spots to No. 9.

So how much did the CFP selection committee like what the Mountaineers did?

"Impressive road win versus a ranked Texas team," said selection committee chairman Rob Mullens, the athletic director at Oregon. "We were really impressed with Will Grier's leadership and the resiliency that the Mountaineers showed particularly on that last drive and then the two-point conversion."

The top three spots remained the same with No. 1 Alabama followed by fellow undefeateds Clemson and Notre Dame. With Alabama's 29-0 win over LSU, Michigan moved into No. 4 spot followed by Georgia and then Oklahoma.

Texas fell but remained in the top 25, coming in at No. 19. Three-loss Iowa State, which also controls its own destiny in the Big 12 and plays in Austin on Nov. 17, rose to No. 22.

Yes, the Big 12 will still need some help, led by Alabama winning out and a Notre Dame loss, but there's still a path.

The challenge for Oklahoma and West Virginia is a meeting in Morgantown on Nov. 23, and potentially a rematch a week later in the Big 12 title game at AT&T Stadium.

The worst possible scenario for the Big 12 would be the two teams splitting, leaving each with two losses and almost assuredly on the outside in.